On the Same Poem

On The Same Poem, a poetry project of On the Same Page, the county’s annual Community
Read Program, has become a staple of National Poetry Month in Forsyth County. On
The Same Poem is the shared community experience of reading and discussing a single
poem to promote appreciation of poetry and to spark dialogue between diverse segments
of the population. The project includes a luncheon with a distinguished poet at
the Central Library and poetry slams and poetry contests throughout the county library
system.

The On the Same Poem luncheon has become a staple of National Library Week/National
Poetry Month in Forsyth County. It is a programming concept that originated at FCPL
and has attracted the attention of Poet’s House, a national organization that seeks
to encourage innovative poetry programming in public libraries across the country.
Over a brown bag lunch, the visiting poet reads his poem. Participants discuss the
poem, facilitated by discussion leaders at each table, and the program concludes
with question and answer with the poet.